A CHILDREN’S hospice has introduced new technology to help its young patients with profound learning disabilities communicate more easily.

Zoё’s Place Baby Hospice, located in Middlesbrough Hospice, is a charity providing palliative, respite and end of life care to children from birth to five years suffering from life-limiting or life-threatening conditions.

The charity’s aim is to offer patient’s parents and carers a chance to recharge their batteries, as well as offering support for families dealing with difficult issues or bereavements and specialist end-of-life care for children.

Helped from a £2,642 grant from Newcastle Building Society, the hospice has purchased six new iPads to help its patients who lack motor skills and find using touch screen devices helpful for communication and participation in art therapy sessions. These sessions act as a form of psychotherapy and allows children to use art materials for self-expression via pictures instead of the spoken word.

Lisa Appleby, Head of Care at Zoë’s Place, said: “As children are naturally creative, it is often easier for them to draw as opposed to answering questions directly. Our children already have so many hurdles to overcome, and with the support of Newcastle Building Society and these iPads, we can help them overcome one of them. They will enable our children to have an involvement within a learning process that so many of us take for granted.”